Page 16 of The Princess and the Pizza Man

A sharp ache shot up Winter’s spine, and she reached back to relieve the pressure. Okay, so crouching behind the desk wasn’t probably the best idea, but it was worth it. Usually when she started matchmaking, her “victims” were obvious choices—a pair of opposites who had no idea just how good life was about to get. Winter’s selection process was calculated, practiced, and near perfect now that she’d done it for so long. And when Maybelle Monroe opened her mouth to flirt with the handsome Garreth Burk, Winter knewexactlywho her next target would be.

As soon as they left the room, Winter slowly crept out from her hiding spot, smiling through the cringe from the aches in her body. There was nothing in the world better than helping people find love. Not her money, not her mansion, not even the murder mystery.Thisis what she lived for—seeing the sparks between two strangers turn into lightning.

The clock over the fireplace dinged eleven, and her heart leapt. She only had an hour to get into makeup and set up for lunch. Her hands frantically ran down her torso, sweeping away the dust bunnies clinging to the cotton of her shirt.

“Costume, makeup, check with Kasey in the kitchen…” she said to herself, going down the checklist. “Got to talk to Garreth and Maybelle. Suggest romantic things to do together. Oh! The pool would probably be perfect. Some hot tubbing.” A smile wrapped on her face, and her butt wiggled in a happy jig as she entered the hallway. Excitement filled the air as guests and actors alike talked about the mystery, asking questions and offering up theories. Winter bounced her way to the elevators, bopping her head to the tune ofPower of Love, which always stuck in her head when she was on the cusp of matching.

“Oh, they’d be so cute!” she couldn’t help but whisper-squeal to herself. Maybelle was the southern beauty, red hair, big smile, even bigger personality. Most likely a socialite back home, knowing everyone and everything with the confident way she spoke and held herself. And Garreth was the quiet, handsome city man, dark hair and unsure smile. They would bring out the best in one another—they just needed their moment.

“Maybelle is the beauty to Garreth’s beast,” she mused just as she caught some movement out of the corner of her eye. Will sidled up next to her and waited for the elevator.

“Hello again,” he said in that knee-melting accent. Heat ran over her cheeks.

“You should really make a noise or something when you walk up to someone. Give a girl some warning.”

“You are the first person to tell me that.”

“Usually not so sneaky?”

He shook his head, eyes drifting up to the floor lights as they dinged their way down to the main level. “Bells and I have a reputation as the town’s loudmouths.”

Bells? Goodness, how adorable was that?

The elevator doors opened, and they stepped in almost in perfect synchrony. “Level five, I’m assuming?” she asked, hovering her finger over the number and then pushing it when he nodded. She’d wait until he was out to stick her key in and head up to her suite.

As soon as the doors closed, he leaned against the wall. “I know what yer up to.”

“Excuse me?”

“The whole spirit of Eros thing.” He waved his hand in the air and looked at her. “It’s you, isn’t it?”

Try as she might, she could not keep her face impassive. “No…” she said, but her voice shook and broke.

He chuckled. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

A steel wall appeared in front of her, and she prepared her canons for firing. “What makes you say that?”

“Hey, I ain’t knockin’ it. Just was thinking… if I was making money off of a rumor, I’d wanna keep that going as long as possible.”

“That’s not why I’m doing it,” she argued before realizing that she’d totally admitted to it. “I mean…”

He gave her a look, one that was equally cute as it was annoying. What gall this man had; the actors, the staff, everyone she worked closely with had never asked her if that was what really went on, though she was sure they had their suspicions.

She cleared her throat and watched as the doors opened to the guest rooms level. “The rumor about this place isn’t why people come here.”

“You sure ‘bout that?” he said, moving out into the hall, but leaning against the doors to keep the elevator there. “That’s why I’m here.”

Her stomach whooped. “You’relooking for love?”

He put a hand to his chest. “Am I that undesirable?”

“Heavens no,” she blurted. “I’m surprised, is all. Feels like you’ve been fighting the urge to pack up and leave since the moment you got here.”

“You’re perceptive.”

“Could say the same about you.” Not once had anyone ever figured out what she’d been doing for a hobby. Even when she’d been incredibly obvious about it.

“I’m not here for me,” he said. “So don’t be gettin’ any ideas. If it were up to me, I’d be halfway back to Alabama by now.”

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